Kilgour Family Case Study

Countless factors weighed in on the urbanization of Cincinnati, but not many assessed the Kilgour family and its impact on Cincinnati’s growth. This prominent and esteemed family had three generations of influence, which fostered the treasures of Cincinnati, through its involvement in steamboats railroad, telephones, real estate, and especially the streetcar system. Throughout history, the development of a neighborhood’s character has always come as a consequence of the multifaceted interactions that the neighborhood had. For Oakley, the foremost influence is public transit. Cities are a vehicle for individuals to be expressive, have dreams, and to be successful; yet this can be difficult without a viable public transit option. In the early

Dependable, rapid, and steady transportation to the active, city life of downtown, made it practical for residents to commute from their home life in the suburbs. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the Oakley Streetcar line originated in a location surrounded by large holdings of Kilgour real estate. Due to the privatized choices of specific families or individuals, the growth and development of Cincinnati ensued, just as the Kilgours did in

The cities included: Boston, New York City, Brooklyn, Hoboken, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. It was soon after the Oakley streetcar was introduced that it was clear that its powerful impact must not and could not be ignored. Throughout the 1860s, countless streetcar lines had guaranteed approval to maneuver their cars on Cincinnati streets. As a result, Cincinnati in the 1870s had a jumble of independent lines with no consistent or logical system to serve its residents. The Cincinnati Daily Gazette (1855-1883) was the voice of Cincinnati. The Gazette was highly involved in making sure that both the community and the Kilgours were held accountable for the choices made in regard to public transit. The Gazette was effective in expressing the failures of Cincinnati’s local transportation and challenged the inconsistent design of the streetcar routes. . Even so, the Gazette repeatedly came out in favor of implementing public transportation. For them, transit not only served as an “institution for the people” but also streetcars had the ability to establish a sense of community and responsibility, giving everyone the opportunity to find their role within in the city. Although Cincinnati was one of the seven cities in America to have street railway lines, the Gazette’s editors announced that Cincinnatians